Archive for the ‘Prophecy’ Category

“And the LORD said to me: ‘The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I did not send them, nor did I command them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a lying vision, worthless divination, and the deceit of their own minds. Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who prophesy in my name although I did not send them, and who say, ‘Sword and famine shall not come upon this land’: By sword and famine those prophets shall be consumed. And the people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem, victims of famine and sword, with none to bury them–them, their wives, their sons, and their daughters. For I will pour out their evil upon them.’” Jeremiah 14:14-16 (ESV)

Beware of false prophets, who gain success by telling you what you want to hear rather than the truth. In the midst of impending judgement upon the people of God, some prophets began telling the Israelites that God did not want to send famine or an army to destroy them. Rather, He wanted them to prosper as His beloved, covenant people. These prophets, though, did not receive this word from the Lord; they proclaimed this word for their own good, probably coming forth from their own hopes. But these prophets did not know the heart of God for His holy name and the severity of His offense toward those who defame that name and their covenant. Judgment was coming whether or not the people of God wanted it, because they needed it and deserved it.

False prophets, unfortunately, still proclaim false words, claiming them to be from the Lord, today. They communicate words sinful man wants to hear rather than what they need to hear, which ultimately does them no good. As the new covenant people of God, let us make sure that the words we allow someone to speak over us match the character of God as it is revealed in scripture. Do not be deceived by what you want to hear; be devoted to what you need to hear, flowing forth from the mouth of the Almighty.

“Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned–every one–to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:4-6 (ESV)

In one of the most beautiful passages in all of scripture, the Lord through the prophet Isaiah sets forth a divine promise of greater salvation coming in the form of a servant. This servant, chosen and formed by the hand of God, will come to set the people of God free from a greater oppressive force than the Assyrian army. He will take on the oppression of sin and God’s wrath against that sin, absorbing our full judgment as our Heavenly Father lays upon him the iniquity of us all. No longer will an animal pay the price for our sin; rather, God’s chosen instrument will become our bearer of His wrath.

The promise here is unmistakable, as it clearly points to the work of Jesus Christ, who sacrificed the glory of heaven to pursue us and reconcile us to God by removing the stain of our transgression. We were rebellious in our devotion to the Lord as His creation, and yet for the sake of His glory, the Lord chose to rescue us and restore us as He did the people of Israel. From Genesis to Revelation, the Lord has been unfolding this ultimate plan of restoration, a small picture of which we see in Isaiah’s prophetic work.

Our responsibility is the same as that of Isaiah. We are to proclaim Christ’s redemptive work for the sake of the nations. Will you proclaim Christ’s saving work today?

“And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation.” 2 Peter 1:19-20 (ESV)

“Is the calling of Christ worth dying for?” This was the central question on the mind of early Christians as they watched their friends and family be put to death for the sake of Christ. In order to encourage them, Peter reassures them of the certainty of God’s faithfulness evidenced in Scripture. Peter’s assurance in the worth of this cause rests not in miraculous events nor myths devised by man, but rather the Holy Spirit inspired Word of God.

To make his point in a greater way, Peter takes us on a journey back in time to the Mount of Transfiguration, upon which Peter experienced the glory of Christ unlike any other. He saw the glorified Son of God conversing with Moses and Elijah! What an incredible spectacle! For Peter, though, this event only had significance when placed in the greater narrative of salvation collected in the Prophetic Word. The Prophetic Word, then, is a more sure foundation for our sacrifice than even the Mount of Transfiguration! You don’t need a mountaintop spectacle to sure up your faith, for you hold God’s full revelation of Himself every day in your hand.

Take comfort, dear friend, in knowing that the Bible (inspired by the Holy Spirit of course) is source enough for our faith, reminding us of God’s faithfulness in calling us to redemption and providing a path for that redemption. Treasure this W0rd for the jewel that it is. Rely upon it in times of distress and call upon it in times of persecution. The Prophetic Word is the most sure instrument we have in reminding us of Christ’s great worth and encouraging us to persevere even when times get hard.

“And the LORD said to me: ‘The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I did not send them, nor did I command them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a lying vision, worthless divination, and the deceit of their own minds. Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who prophesy in my name although I did not send them, and who say, ‘Sword and famine shall not come upon this land’: By sword and famine those prophets shall be consumed. And the people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem, victims of famine and sword, with none to bury them–them, their wives, their sons, and their daughters. For I will pour out their evil upon them.’” Jeremiah 14:14-16 (ESV)

Beware of false prophets, who gain success by telling you what you want to hear rather than the truth. In the midst of impending judgement upon the people of God, some prophets began telling the Israelites that God did not want to send famine or an army to destroy them. Rather, He wanted them to prosper as His beloved, covenant people. These prophets, though, did not receive this word from the Lord; they proclaimed this word for their own good, probably coming forth from their own hopes. But these prophets did not know the heart of God for His holy name and the severity of His offense toward those who defame that name and their covenant. Judgment was coming whether or not the people of God wanted it, because they needed it and deserved it.

False prophets, unfortunately, still proclaim false words, claiming them to be from the Lord, today. They communicate words sinful man wants to hear rather than what they need to hear, which ultimately does them no good. As the new covenant people of God, let us make sure that the words we allow someone to speak over us match the character of God as it is revealed in scripture. Do not be deceived by what you want to hear; be devoted to what you need to hear, flowing forth from the mouth of the Almighty.

“Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned–every one–to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:4-6 (ESV)

In one of the most beautiful passages in all of scripture, the Lord through the prophet Isaiah sets forth a divine promise of greater salvation coming in the form of a servant. This servant, chosen and formed by the hand of God, will come to set the people of God free from a greater oppressive force than the Assyrian army. He will take on the oppression of sin and God’s wrath against that sin, absorbing our full judgment as our Heavenly Father lays upon him the iniquity of us all. No longer will an animal pay the price for our sin; rather, God’s chosen instrument will become our bearer of His wrath.

The promise here is unmistakable, as it clearly points to the work of Jesus Christ, who sacrificed the glory of heaven to pursue us and reconcile us to God by removing the stain of our transgression. We were rebellious in our devotion to the Lord as His creation, and yet for the sake of His glory, the Lord chose to rescue us and restore us as He did the people of Israel. From Genesis to Revelation, the Lord has been unfolding this ultimate plan of restoration, a small picture of which we see in Isaiah’s prophetic work.

Our responsibility is the same as that of Isaiah. We are to proclaim Christ’s redemptive work for the sake of the nations. Will you proclaim Christ’s saving work today?